South Korea could be the first to advance in the World Cup, while controversy swirls around the team's star

South Korea's World Cup campaign is overshadowed by a controversy surrounding captain Son Heung-min, yet the team could still secure early qualification. The Asian side faces Mexico in a crucial match where a win would propel them forward, potentially as the first team to advance.

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The Asian team members are boycotting their own country's press at the World Cup venue, thus standing by their captain, Son Heung-min.

This match holds particular significance for Mexico. A victory would allow them to play their subsequent knockout stage games on home soil in Mexico City. The pressure is on for the Mexican team, who are motivated to secure this advantage.

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Son did not speak to his compatriots after the 2-1 victory against the Czechs, for which they commented on him at the team's open training session that he dodged his mandatory military service in the country.

Meanwhile, the South Korean team has united in support of their captain, Son Heung-min. The players are boycotting their national press at the World Cup venue. This action stems from comments made about Son's military service, which some perceived as him evading his duties. However, the article clarifies that Son fulfilled his service requirement in 2020, a few weeks of duty completed during the COVID-19 pandemic, after earning an exemption through his 2018 Asian Games victory. This exemption reduced his service from 21 months to a shorter period.

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The accusation is false: Son achieved through his victory in the 2018 Asian Games that he only had to complete a few weeks of service instead of 21 months, and he completed it in the spring of 2020, during the sports break due to Covid.

Son, a former Tottenham striker, has already scored three World Cup goals for South Korea, a national record he shares. He previously scored against Mexico in the 2018 World Cup group stage, though it was a late consolation goal in a 2-1 loss. Mexico has a historical edge, having won their other World Cup encounter in 1998 by a score of 3-1, and they hope to repeat that success.

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The former Tottenham striker is a co-record holder for his country with three World Cup goals, one of which he scored against Mexico, although in 2018, also in the second round of the group stage, it was only a consolation goal in the 93rd minute of the 2-1 lost match.